"I've taken so much criticism (since) coming out of college," Allen said after getting his second career triple-double as the Seattle SuperSonics snapped the Los Angeles Lakers' six-game winning streak with a 107-90 victory Friday night.
"People try to say what you do and who you are," said Allen, a three-time All-Star who played at Connecticut. "I can just shoot the ball and I can just score. Having a triple-double is saying that you're doing everything."
The Sonics won their fifth game in a row at home and improved to 4-1 since acquiring Allen last week in a big trade that saw Gary Payton sent to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers had won 13 of their last 15 coming in.
The Sonics' only loss since the trade came to the Lakers in Los Angeles last Sunday night.
"Every night I like to rebound the ball and I like to pass the ball," said Allen, who had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. "The stats prove it."
Asked what he thought Milwaukee coach George Karl, who was critical of Allen's defense, would say when he saw Allen's line in the box score, Allen smiled and said:
"George is going to say. ... 'He's rebounding the basketball?' "
Kobe Bryant scored 34 points on 10-for-27 shooting and Shaquille O'Neal had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who looked tired after beating Detroit in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Bryant said he thought he had the flu.
"I feel terrible," Bryant said. "I think I've been going nonstop since before the All-Star break and it's just caught up with me. I've got aches and chills."
Allen was particularly motivated to be matched against Bryant, generally regarded one of the best players, if not the best, in the NBA.
"So much is said about what Kobe Bryant is and what Kobe Bryant does," Allen said. "I don't know if a lot of people know it, but I was drafted No. 5 and he was drafted like No. 8 (actually 13th in 1996). Not that means anything. But I think I've always ranked right there along with what Kobe has done."
The Lakers were missing their head coach, Phil Jackson, for the third game in a row. Jackson hasn't completely recovered from having a kidney stone removed Monday. Assistant Jim Cleamons coached the Lakers in Jackson's absence.
Predrag Drobnjak and Vladimir Radmanovic each scored 18 points for Seattle, which outrebounded the Lakers 57-33.
"We just didn't box out," O'Neal said. "That's unacceptable."
- Record: 26-31.